GENTRY -- City Council, at its Feb. 2 meeting, passed on its second reading an ordinance re-adjusting the city's ward boundaries and adopted resolutions approving a bicycle and walking trail master plan and a state-aid street project plan.
With rules suspended and reading by title only, the council unanimously passed on its second reading an ordinance to adjust the ward boundaries to make them as close as possible to equal in population. The change, with new boundaries drawn up by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, was necessary because of the annexation of new land into the city following voter approval in the November election.
Council members resolved to endorse the Northwest Arkansas Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and adopt the community plan which is within the city's planning area. Focus of the plan is to connect Gentry and Siloam Springs with bicycle and walking trails in the future. The plan will be used to give the city direction as it continues to develop trails for pedestrians and cyclists.
Also approved was a project plan for overlaying and surfacing a number of streets, using state aid money from the 2013 half cent increase in state sales tax adopted by voters to fund highway projects and from 1 cent of fuel tax money collected. The city expects to receive funding within a year to help pay the cost of the project.
Included in the paving and resurfacing project are portions of East Main St., Shankles Rd., Parks Circle/Ringo Dr., N. Robin Rd., and Gerald Shea Rd. Though other streets in the city are also in need of work, these were selected as a part of the project because the project could be implemented quickly as soon as funding is available.
Estimated cost of the work was approximately $351,000, with state aid paying $250,000 of the project. The state would also do the engineering and bid out the project.
According to the State Aid City Street Program website, "The State Aid City Street program was created by Act 982 of 1975 and was funded with Federal Revenue Sharing Funds until 1981, at which time the revenue sharing program was eliminated. Act 1032 of 2011 amended Arkansas code by establishing the State Aid City Street Program to be administered by a State Aid City Street Committee, whose responsibilities would include determining which projects receive funding through the program. On November 6, 2012, Arkansas voters approved Issue #1, a constitutional amendment, which temporarily increased the state sales tax to fund surface transportation improvements and permanently dedicated one cent per gallon of the existing motor fuel tax to the State Aid City Street Fund."
After reviewing qualifications, the council also chose three engineering firms for contract negotiations in the following order: 1) Civil Engineering, Siloam Springs; 2) ESI, Springdale; 3) CEI, Bentonville. Engineering services are needed for the Crowder Ave. project and utility placement there.
Crowder Ave. is the new city street being constructed between SWEPCO Rd. and Arkansas Hwy. 12 at WPA Rd.
General News on 02/11/2015